Leader of Ireland's main opposition loses prime minister vote

DUBLIN, March 10 (Reuters) - The leader of Ireland's main
opposition party Fianna Fail, Micheal Martin, lost a vote in
parliament to be appointed prime minister as expected on
Thursday, following Prime Minister Enda Kenny's earlier failed
attempt to be re-elected.

Kenny's coalition was rejected by voters at the Feb. 26
elections that produced no clear outcome, making Ireland the
latest euro zone state to face a prolonged political stalemate
that senior ministers say could take weeks to break.

The two parties are well short of the number of seats needed
to form a majority, even with the help of smaller parties or
independent lawmakers, leaving an unprecedented alliance that
many in both parties resist as the only obvious solution.
(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Dominic Evans)